I think the key point to come out Ngati Kahungunu’s stand on the Ruataniwhia Dam (Consultation on dam lacking – Bay iwi 24/4) is that unless the Hawkes Bay Regional Council starts consulting in a ethical manner then Ngati Kahungunu’s not going to invest and nor will any other iwi. This is interesting because Andrew Newman has been promoting the dam scheme as an ideal investment for iwi interests. It does not matter what Liz Lambert may try and say in HBRC’s defence if Ngati Kahungunu say they haven’t been consulted, then they have been insulted by the lack of councils response to their concerns. It is becoming more obvious every day that the Ruataniwhia Dam is an expensive white elephant that is unlikely to get sufficient investment from within New Zealand and so will ultimately be owned offshore along with the water that it uses.